Method of and apparatus for creating marine effects



Oct. 28, 1930.

c. GIBBONS El AL 1,779,766

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING MARINE EFFECTS Filed June 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Oct 28, 1930. c, GIBBONS ET AL 1,779,766

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING MARINE EFFECTS Filed June 5 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES OEDRIC GIIBBONS, or SANTA MONICA, AND ROBERT T; 'LAY'ron Am) LIAMEs BAsEvI, or LOS memes? CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS mo. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYEB conronin mom, or CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OFYNEW YORK Q: r

MEI Iron or AND A PABATUS r03 CREATING MARINE game s Application lea'iuziet, 1929. Serial No. 368,567.

This invention relates to a method where by'marine effects. such as waves, moonlight effects on lakes or the ocean, or 'the effect produced by the stern of a ship may be produced on' the stage or in motion'picture studios. The invention alsorelates to an, ap-

paratus by means f i $11011; can.

be reproduced very faithfully.

It is often desired in the presentationof plays to give the effect of an ocean, lake or other largebody of Water-present in the immediate background. More generally, it is desired 'tocreate the effect of a setting sun or moonlight on the water." Often it is desired to createa marine effect such asis obtained 'by the stern of V a ship plowing through the water. Heretofore ithas not been possible to create such eifects. The method and apparatus disclosed herein and embraced by this inventionmakes it possible to attain very realistic effects, either on the legitimate stageorin motion picture studios where the action, may be photographed together with the marine efl'ect simultaneously. I v v Heretofore in producing motion picture scenes containing such'marineefiiects in the background, attempts have been made to introduce said eifects by double printing and by the use of masks or matts, but double printing and matting methods are difl'icultly I executed with the accuracyand perfect re;

necessitate. i

In order to clearly, describe the method'of the apparatus embraced by. thisjinvention,

production which modern critical audiences one particular form of apparatus by means of which the method may be; carried out will be described in considerable detail. for purposes of illustration only. In describing the preferred form of the invention, reference will be had to the attached drawings, in whichzfpj T Fig. 1 is a front elevation of'the apparatus positioned in front of a set on which the action is to take place. I

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partly broken' away, of a section of the wave members employed.-

. Fig. 8 isa plan View ofa portion of the wave members. i Fig. 4 isa side'elevationof'the apparatus shownin Fig: 1. I

The I illustration. of the apparatus shown in the drawings comprisesa built-up set representing the veranda or porch offa build-' .ing. This set maycomprise-the floor 1, rail .FPA'TEVNTLOFFICFELYF ings 2, and columns 3. In this set it is desired tocreate the effect of thebuilding,to which .the porch is appurtenant, being positioned on'a hill overlooking the seashore; Inorder to create the enact-or distance miniature trees 4 may be positioned immediately in front of the p'or c'hl1". The apparatus for creating marine effects may then be'positioned in. front of'the miniature treesti The marine effect which it is desired to produce in the illustration isthat of a setting sun.- This effect may be veryrealistically(produced by utilizing the apparatus embraced this invention. 1; 'f

-The apparatus for creating 'thise fiect preferabl y. includes a plurality or bank of'wave members, such as the Wave members 5, 6 and 7 which are in a substantially horizontal position longitudinally of said wave member's. The'entire bank of wave members maybeslightly inclined, as indicated in Fig.4,"the degree of inclination dependingupon the total number of wave members employed. Very good effects have been obtained byusing from 48 .to 15 0 wave members, thesefigures being merely given to indicatethe largenurnber of wave members which may beemployed. The inclination of the bank of wave members will, therefore, depend somewhat upon the'num ber of Wave members employed, the inclina are used.

' Preferably, each of the wavemembers has waves depicted thereon, as for-example, by

means of. waving the upper edgesof the wave members. Such waving may be accomplished by cutting the wave members which may be formed of paper,tin or anyother suitable material in the form of waves, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The height of thewaves' formed in the upper edges of front wave members should preferably be greater than the height of waves formed in the rear wave members, the decrease in height of the waves being progressive from front to rear. For example, the height of the wave formed in wave member 7. should not be as great as the heightfof the wave formed in wave member 5. In addition to the upper waved edges, the Wave members may carry thereon light reflecti-ng spots'or areas,-such as-the areas 8 representi-ng;splotches of'foam" or 5 portions in 5 r 1 nay be slightly longitudinally displaced with respect to peak 10 of the adjoining member 6. 1 i

The peak in. member 7, such as the portion of thegpeak 11 is also longitudinally displaced with respect to the peak'10 .in member 6. The longitudinal displacement shown in Fig. 2. is exaggerated for purposes of illustration. If theg-peaks of the waves are displaced in themagnner illustrated in Fig. 2, then the device upon vbeingoperated willcreate the im pression of waves rolling toward shore and front-the right to the left.

The wave members 5, 6, 7 and the likemay benttached. to substantially horizontal .membersl-QQ' These supporting members 12 are preferably oscillated in. timed relation to each other. Means for oscillating the wave m mbersrmay include asplitshaft-l3, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes ofthe Wave members, such shaft 13 carrying a, plurality ,of cranks 14:,15, 16 and the, like. The. split.shaft 13 may be suitably journaled iniixed bearings,.as indicated at 17 18 .a nd.,19@. f. x v a ,Tlie, cranks. l4, ill5 an d l6 Qare preferably or -,dcreasing ,throw, or. displacement from feonhto rear uof the: banklof wave members: For example, crank l4 lisslightly longer than crank 15I,, Eand. crank lb .in turn is slightly longerv than .cra;nk;16. This arrangement and gradation of cranks is adapted to oscillate the frontwave members through a greater movement than tlie. rear wave membersof the bank. ,lt .iswto be understood-that:eachlof said mamm s. is. fpr-ovided with a inQQ journaled the wave member support =12, .so thatlthe. rotation of ,shaftl13 thereby imparts anoseillating motion to the -.way-emembers, saii se bi lbe-es re ns i en y from fer-entto." rear pof thebank: The -reta';-

: ina mate may'z ee mel she ea y suitable manner. For example, the shaft 13 may bear a sprocket 21 driven by means of a chain 22 from a suitable power source, such as the motor 28. Y

The angular, displacement of the cranks 14, 15, 16, etc.,' may vary with relation to each other. For example, crank 16 may be ad vanced a few degrees with respect to crank 1 5, and crank 15 -mayloe:advai11ced-.:.a' stew degrees with respect to' crank 14%"110 haslbeen found that :iwhenf-the Icranks care displaced about thirty degrees to each other progressively; then "the'upper edgesof the Wave members ,5, 6, 7 and the like form a sine curve similar'to a large crest of a wave approaching the front. This is illustrated in Fig. 4, where an. attemptlhas been. made tofs'how that thQf-WaYG member 2 l is the crest ofone of these progressive waves, whereaswave inember Zais near.- the bottom ,ofone of said .The, peakofa wave, thus made by -the bination of waveumembers Vmaybe vcaused to travel either toward the front landtoward the camera, or point or view, .orQa-way therefrom, thereby permitting such :waves .to..either appreach the shore .or' the ,point ,Of V ew, [or create the. appearance ofgoing away from the p.oi nt.,of:view." I This latter. impression is desirable when theset, instead of representing aportion ofra building or some other stationaryrlamlmark,

depicts the. stern-10f aship; moving through thewatend I .I: v L

- Itxisto ,beunderstood that the bank of waves may. ,\b'e. .supported on ,any suitable framework, .one form of such framework beingindicatedinFigg l. g

[The rear wave 'membei,.sucl1,. as the wave member 26 is preferably stationary and n steadof having a waveformed in the upper edge thereof, said] upperv edge is preferably straight. Said stationary wave zll ember gfi forms the horizonrline 27, -;shown in B g. 1. A curtain28 may.be suspendedbehind the rear wave member26, The mamas. may

bear thereonzan appropriate "painting such as for example, aship ,onthe horizon, clouds or the like. If desired, the curtain ZS mayIbe translucent and appropriate images be proj cte .upio sai es tain om e r t e: of.' "For example,jwhere'it'isjdes red, to show the sun or,moon in the," sky, such an'efi'e ct may beproducdby projecting alight-upon the back; of h art-am- 28 froin-af's'uitable light "source such as' the li'ght 29 --which,-as indicated in Fig.4, maybe movable vertically to create the eifectof a rising or setting heavenly body. In addition, clouds suchas are indicated in -Fig. -1'at"-30,Emay be/projected iupon' the curtain 1 28 :in any -.suitable manner. 1- Y 'ln ORCleTa-tO; impart-the eifect of light being nefleetedl frw 543 -;se tting sun, for .weggample, upon the water, a suitable ,of light such as the light box be positionedbe neath the bank of wave members. The light source may be enclosed as inthelight box 31, or may merely consistof adirected or an ran'ged'series of lights placed beneath the wave members. As shown in the drawings, the light-box 31 'may include a plurality of light members 32, the top of the light box 31 being covered with a translucent cloth such as the'cloth 33. In order to create the efiect of perspective,'the light box may be of greater width beneaththe front Wave members'than at the rear, and this is'shown in Fig.- 3., When alight box or light source of the character described is employed the light -pro-' jected upon the rear of the curtain 28 is preferably' in' substantial alinementwith the light box, as shown in Fig.1. 1 1 It has beendiscoveredthat if those por= tions of the wave members directly above the light source or light box 31 are renderedlight reflective, a very desirableeifect is obtained. Forexamp'le, the wave members 5', 6 and 7 may have portions of their area immediately above the light source painted or coated with a lightjreflecting paint, such as white paint or aluminum paint. Very Interesting results are obtained by forming the .wave mem bers"from-tin." It is almostdmpos'sible to have absolutely plain pieces of tin and, therefcre', the tin will have minute bends anddepre'ssions therein, as indicated at'34i in Fig. 3. The portion of the wave members immediately above therlight bOxmay be=left unpainted,- the light'being reflected-from said portions of the light box into the eyes ofthe observer orcamera, thereby creating a most desirable effect. Concave portions of the wave membersimmediately above the light box willform dark areas, such asare indicated at 35, and these dark areas, under the influence of the'oscillating movement and relative displacement on various wave mem bers, will change, flicker and be displaced wlth relation to each other in a manner greatly are made of tin or some other shiny metallic surface,'those portions not immediately above V the light source or light box may be painted,

in Whole or in part, with a materialcapable of absorbing and restraining such reflections. fIn view of the fact that the wave members 5, 6, 7 and the like maybe of considerable length, it maybe desired to support them intermediate the ends thereof. A means of sup porting'the wave members is" shown Fig. 2,-andmay' comprise-'a-strap or hangers 36 attached to the lower "edges of the supporting members 12; shaft;37 may pass through the traps '36, said shaft bearing eccentric wheels 38'thereon,'the'throwof said eccentric wheelsbeingcorrelated with thethrow of the 'cr anksll Preferably, theshaft 37 isdriven at the same me of speed as the shaft 13, and

this may be accomplished by-positioninga sprocket-39 on the shaft 13, and a similar sprocket 40 on shaft 37, thereby permitting the sprocket-39m drive the sprocket-l0 by means of a chain ll. a

It is to be understood that although aparticular arrangement, method of'operation and construction of anapparatus adapted to carry out the method has-been described, in details hereinabove, the invention is not limited'to the precise mode of operation or to theiprec'ise construction described herein. umerous changes and modifications may be made,- and the apparatus may be modified and: adapted to a large number of uses inthetheatre and motion picture studios Forexamplejitis which the light is directly PI'OJBCtGd, but in-r stead any-light source positionedbeneath the bank of wave members may be employed-.1 By the use of the term light box therefore,vthe invention is not to be limitedto the precise construction shown inthe drawings, bu't :I l to be interpreted in the light ofthe disclol-V sures made herein.-- All such changes a and modifications as come within the scope of; the following claims are, therefore, embraced thereby; T' T. MWe claim: r

1. Inan apparatus for creating marineef v fects, the combination ofa ;:bank of; substantially horizontal wave members in spaced relation, waved upper' edges formed" infsaid wave nieinbers,.a light reflective surface -pro videdon a portion of said wave members, andmeans for oscillating said wave, members in timed relation.- I

ion

- 2. In an apparatus for .cre'atingmarineet.

fects, thecombinationzof a bankofsubjstan tially horizontal wave members inispa'cedjrelation, means operativel'y connectedto said wave members for oscillating saidwa-ve mem bers in timed relation, a light boxpositioned beneath said wave members and transverse thereto, and alight reflective surface provid+ ed on said wave membersin substantial aline ment with said lightbox. f .5? i

, 3. In an apparatus for creating: marine efiectsg the combination of a-banlr of substantially horizontal wave members "in spaced-relation, waved upper edges formed in ,s'aid wave members, meansfor.oscillat ng -sa1d wave members, a light box beneath SZLlCl wave members, and a light; reflective. surface pro;

comprisin abank of-substantially horizontal wave mem bers in spacedrelation, means for, oscillating said wave members adapted tooscillate front Wave members through a great er movement than rear wave members of said bank, a. substantially straight and immovablewave member at the rear of said bank,

' a verticallydisposed curtain rising from behind the'rear Wave member, and means for projecting a light upon'said curtain.

6. An apparatus for creating marine efiects,i:comprising a bank of substantially horizontal Wave members "invspsaced relation, wavedlupper edges formed in said wave members, means for oscillating said {wave members, :adapted to oscillate front wave members through a greater: movement than rear wave members ofsaidzbank,;anjd azsubstantially straight :or immovable waveimember in :therear of'saidbank.

Y 7. An apparatus for creating -marine effects, comprising a bank ofsubstantially horizontal wavemembers in spaced relation, waved upper edges formed in said wave members, the height of Waves formed in said upper edges being greater in said front .wave members than .in the rear wave members of said bank, and a substantially straight. and

' immovable wave member in the :rearofsaid lation, I waved upper edges formed in said wave members, the height of waves formed in saidupper edgesbeing greater in saidfront waved members than in the rear wavedmembers of said'bank,peaks of waves formed in adjoining wave members being longitudinally displacedto each other, meansfor oscillating said wave members, and a substantially'straight and immovable wave member in the rear ofsai'd bank." A

10. An apparatus "for creating. marine effects, comprising a bank of substantially horizontal wave members in spaced relation, waved upper edges formed in said wave members, the height of waves formedlfinsaid upper edges being greater in the front wave membersthanin the rear wave members of said bank, peaks of waves formed in adjoin ing wave l nember :b ng q igitudinally inverse placedzto each other, and means for oscillating said wave members in timed relation. .11. An apparatus for creating marine effects including a bank of substantially horizontal wave members .in spaced relation, waved upper edges formed in said wave members, the height of Waves formed in said upper edges being greater insaid front wave members than in the rear Wave members of said bank, peaks of waves formed in adj oining Wave members being longitudinally displaced to each other, and means for oscillating said wave members adapted to oscillate front wave members through a greater move ment than rear Wave members of said bank. 12. An apparatus for creating marine effects including a bank of substantiallyhorizontal Wave members in spaced relation, waved upper edges formed in said wave members, means for oscillating said wave members in timed relation, said means being adapted to oscillate -front wave members through a greater movement than'rear Wave members of saidbank, and alightreflecti-ve surface provided on said wave members.

; 13. An apparatus for creating marine effectsincluding a bank of substantiallyhort zontal wave-members; in spaced relation, means for oscillating said wave membersin timed relation, said means being. adapted to oscillate front wave members, through a greater movement than rear wave members of-said bank, a light box-beneath saidwave members, saidbox being wider beneath the front than beneath the rear wave members, and alight reflecting surface provided on said'wavemembers in substantial alinement with'said light box. j 1;

14. An apparatus for creatingmarine effects including a bank ofsubstantiallyzliori zontal vWave members spaced relation, means for oscillating said wave membersi-n timed relation, a substantially straightand immovable wave member in the rear of said bank, a light reflectivesurface provided on said wave members, a vertically disposed translucent curtain rising from behind :the rear wave member, and means for projecting av light from the rear of saidtranslucent curtain. i I 15. An apparatus for creating-marine er fectsincluding a bank of substantially horizontal wave members in spaced-y relation, means foroscillating, said wave members in timed relation,-saidmeans being adapted to oscillate front Wave members through a greater movement than rear wave members of said bank, a substantially straight and immovable Wave, member in the rear ofjsaid bank,a light box beneathsaid wave members, saidbox being widerbeneath the frontthan beneath the rear wave members, a lightrefleeting surface provided on said wave members, a vertically disposed translucent .curtamris agir m behi dme rea mam: .130

her, and means for projecting a light upon the rear of said translucent curtain in substantial alinement with said light box. I

16. In a method of creating marineeflects, the step of simultaneously oscillating a plurality of spaced Wavevrepresentations, each f Wave representation during such oscillation being at a different pointin the cycle ofoscillation. s V

17. In a method of creating marine efi'ects, the steps of I simultaneously imparting 'a cyclic concurrent horizontal and vertical m0- tion to each member of a plurality of spaced wave representations having light reflecting portions each Wave representation during such motion being atva different point inthe cycle of motion and projecting light'upon said Wave representation in a band transverse thereto.

Signed at Culver City, California, this 29th day of May, 1929. i

- CEDRIC GIBBONS;

ROBERT T, LAYTON. JAMES BASEVI. v 

